PMID: 2501020Aug 1, 1989Paper

Potentiation of human lymphokine-activated killer cell activity by swainsonine, an inhibitor of glycoprotein processing

Cancer Research
T L BowlinP S Sunkara

Abstract

Interleukin 2 (IL-2) is a secreted glycoprotein which acts as an activation and proliferative signal for lymphocytes expressing membrane-bound glycoprotein IL-2 receptors. We have recently established that swainsonine (SW), an inhibitor of mannosidase II during N-linked glycoprotein processing, augmented mitogen-induced mononuclear leukocyte IL-2 receptor expression and IL-2-induced proliferation. The objective of the present investigation was to examine the effect of SW on lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell induction. Human mononuclear leukocytes were treated with various concentrations of SW (0.1-10 micrograms/ml) and IL-2 (1-100 units/ml) for up to 72 h. SW augmented IL-2-induced LAK activity directed against human lung carcinoma, melanoma, and leukemia cells 2-3-fold. LAK activity generated in the presence of SW at suboptimal doses of IL-2 (10 units/ml) was similar to that observed with higher concentrations of IL-2 (100 units/ml) alone. SW treatment alone or in combination with IL-2 increased the percentage of IL-2 receptor-positive cells. Furthermore, pretreatment with SW subsequently enhanced IL-2-induced lymphocyte proliferation. SW-treated mononuclear leukocytes exhibited an increase in high-mannose type glycoprote...Continue Reading

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